A professional service from start to finish

Matt Cooper

Managing Director

Matt started his career in the automotive industry longer ago than he admits!

He is the second generation looking after Cooper Barnes and has been at the helm for over 14 years.

Cutting his teeth with Ford and Mercedes, Matt has an incredible knowledge and even gets on the tools from time to time.

When not running Cooper Barnes, you will normally find Matt at the helm of a BBQ and watching his beloved Saracens.

Lee Govier

Bodyshop Manager

Lee spent 12 years as a panel beater, which has given him a very in-depth knowledge, with which he supports the workshop team. He then spent 4 years training to be an estimator, but occasionally returns to the tools to keep skills fresh.

When not immersed in the automotive world, Lee has 2 daughters to keep him occupied, and is learning the ukulele (slowly)

Neil Hamilton-Meikle 

Sales & Marketing Manager

Self confessed F1 superfan, Neil has always been surrounded by cars, from storage of performance vehicles and a career focussed in customer service for more years than he cares to remember. He heads up the sales & marketing department for Cooper Barnes.

When not promoting our excellent services, he is a walking wallet for his 3 girls, and is a drummer in not one, but two local bands

Angela Garton

Bookkeeper

With over 20 years experience in commercial banking and a Sage whizz, Angela looks after our accounts. When not bookkeeping she is kept busy with her 3 children and loves swimming and reading (although not at the same time!)

Ian Redden

Panel & mechanical

Ian has been in the industry for over 23 years with 6 at Cooper Barnes. He specialises in heavy panel repairs and crash damage.

In his spare time he is an excellent Banger Racer and was World Champion in 2011 , 2104 World of Shale Champion and 2013 Masters Champion.

Never far from a spanner, the weekend sees Ian splitting time between family and his beloved bangers

Deano Prior

Panel Beater

Our former apprentice but now fully qualified, we are very proud of Deano and all the hard work he has put in over the years to pass all is exams. Although he drinks too much tea! Weekends see him restoring and riding classic motorbikes and attending race meetings.

James Johnston

Senior Paint Technician

James brings over 19 years’ experience to the paint department. His knowledge is second to none, and no challenge fazes him. A Ferrari 458 Speciale was his favourite car to work on, not that you see many of those. In his spare time, James has a passion for motorbikes, particularly café racers, and an affinity for all things muddy, he enjoys, nature photography and archaeology.

Gennaro Ruocco

Panel Beater

Hailing from Italy but oddly has no affection for coffee! Gennaro has wide panel experience from boats to vehicles, he joins our panel team as a bodywork specialist. Out of work, he is a self-confessed gym bunny and his favourite car is, surprise surprise, a Ferrari 812 superfast. And don’t get him started on Italian cuisine, he goes all misty eyed.

Kamil Kendra

Mechanic

Kamil has been part of Cooper Barnes for over 10 years and is not only a skilled panel beater but responsible for all mechanical repairs. Taking huge pride in his work, Kamil is not only an invaluable member of the team but a fountain of mechanical knowledge.

Such is his love of all things automotive, weekends usually find him buried in some part of a project car.

Eleni Harvey

Apprentice

Leni (as she’s known) is our multiskills apprentice. No stranger to the auto industry, she is a qualified Level II IMI Light Vehicle Technician. In addition, she is a holder of a Level II City & Guilds qualification in beauty, but decided her future lay in accident damaged cars.

Her family originally hail from Greece, where she spent 11 years, living in Athens. Clearly the lure of a variable climate was too much!

When not riding her motorbike, she likes to spend her time socialising with friends and family.

Hebe White

Valeter / Driver

Hebe splits her time between delivering & collecting customer cars and valeting. She is our Queen of clean with an eye for detail ensuring all our cars leave sparkling. Her hidden talent is circus skills and once jumped out of a plane, although she maintains she was pushed.

Neil Holdsworth

Detailer / Driver

Neil is our in-house valeter and detailer. His level of focus when it comes to the presentation of a vehicle is second to none. He loves taking poor paintwork and using his highly trained skills to restore the gleam and shine. You will normally find him with a polishing machine in his hand about to go to work on a body panel. 

At the weekend he is a DJ and high energy dance music producer.

James Player

Parts

James has spent over 10 years in the auto industry, mostly in car sales. His best ever sale was a very rare £165k Nizmo GTR! Now heading up our parts department, booking in and returning parts, chasing suppliers and ensuring there is a steady flow of components to the workshop. Weekends are taken up with family and when he gets a spare moment, he supports the ups and downs of Tottenham and Ipswich 

Ben Clarkson

Paint Technician

Ben is only 3 years into the automotive industry, but his natural aptitude and skill have made him an essential part of the team in a very short space of time. Recently qualified to NVQ Level III in vehicle painting, and when not further developing his car spraying skills, Ben is found tinkering with his beloved Golf GTI

Brian Clarkson

Estimator / Vehicle Damage Assessor

Yes we have 2 x Clarksons, this one is Ben’s Dad and with over 34 years in the bodyshop industry, there isn’t much Brian hasn’t seen. Brian is one of our estimators, and you’ll usually find him in the car park looking over customers vehicles. Passionate about BTCC and 2 wheel motorsport he has sadly finally hung up his leathers and now uses DIY to unwind.

Chris Dale

Valeter / Driver

You’ll meet Chris, either delivering & collecting your car or he’ll be up to his elbows in suds cleaning them. A former mechanic & MOT tester, Chris is no stranger to the automotive trade. He also ran several bike (pedal) shops locally for over 20 years.

When not tinkering with pushbikes, he spends his weekends in Norfolk fishing on his boat or riding his classic Motorbike.

Ash Cornell

Front of House / Reception

Ash is a qualified Level 2 Light Vehicle Mechanic, but prefers people & paperwork to being on the tools. She will often be your first point of contact and provider of calm advice.

When not looking after our customers, she keeps the drivers in check (no easy task) and is an avid dancer (contemporary & jazz) and a multi-instrumentalist. She lives locally with partner Scott and spaniel Nero.